This is what Shyama Kuruvilla, director of WHOIt is World Center for Traditional Medicinecreated in 2022 to harness the potential of these systems for health and well-being.
“With half the world’s population lacking access to essential health services, traditional medicine is often the closest or only care available for many people,” Kuruvilla said during a virtual press conference on Wednesday, ahead of this month’s WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine.
“For many others, it is a preferred choice because it is personalized and holistic. It is biocultural and promotes general well-being rather than only treating specific disease symptoms,” she continued.
What is traditional medicine?
According to the WHO, traditional medicine includes practices and knowledge from various historical and cultural contexts, predating biomedicine and traditional medical practices.
Traditional medicine emphasizes natural remedies and holistic, personalized approaches to restoring balance to the mind, body and environment.
Ms Kuruvilla said the global demand for traditional medicine is increasing due to chronic illnesses, mental health needs, stress management and meaningful care-seeking.
However, despite widespread use and demand, less than 1 percent of global health research funding currently supports it, she added.
What will happen at the Summit?
The Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine will take place December 17-19 and will bring together policymakers, practitioners, scientists and indigenous leaders from around the world.
It will be held in New Delhi, India, and online.
Participants will discuss how to implement the WHO global strategy on traditional medicine until 2034which aims to advance the traditional, complementary and integrative medicine and provides advice on regulation and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
“The World Summit aims to foster the conditions and collaborations necessary for traditional medicine to contribute on a large scale to the development of all people and our planet,” concluded Ms. Kuruvilla.
Simultaneously, WHO is launching a Global Library of Traditional Medicine – the first digital platform of its kind with more than 1.6 million scientific documents on the subject, a data network on traditional medicine and a framework on indigenous knowledge, biodiversity and health, among other initiatives.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
